Fun with the Pythagorean Theorem of Baseball

The Padres didn't win last night, but that just gives me a chance to have (more, overall, though for the first time in this space, obviously) fun with the Pythagorean Theorem of Baseball. On the morning of Tuesday, August 14, the Giants were tied with the Pirates for the worst record in the NL, with 502 runs scored and 522 runs against. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks, then 16.5 games ahead of the Giants, had the best record in the NL, with 502 runs scored and 523 runs against.

Well, today, the morning of Friday, August 31, the Diamondbacks still have the best record in the NL, now with 570 runs for and 607 runs against, while the Giants, still last in their division (though only fifth worst in the NL) are 13.5 games back with 575 runs for and 583 runs against.

Back to the results of last night's game, Chris Young's health has to be a huge concern for the Padres. With him pitching like in the first half, they'd have a good chance of getting to the World Series with Peavy, Young, and Maddux as their frontline playoff starters (with Germano starting as needed). Without Young, or with Young nursing an aching back... well, I'd really rather not see Tim Stauffer starting a must-win playoff game for the Pads.